According to a thread on the Wigan forum our attendances are 12% down on last year.

Should GH start to worry or is it simply a statistical blip because we've been visited by Celtic, Catalan and harlequins and have the likes of Bradford, Saints and the Hull s?

Personally I think its' the latter but 3 home defeats on the bounce must be a bit of a worry for the bean counters at HQ.

I tend to think the majority of the reason is more down to the latter, but I'd also say our like for like attendances would be down as well.

Catalans had over 9,000 while the Bulls only manged over 7,000

Credit Crunch blah blah blah also will come in to it.

Is the recession hitting Leeds more deeply now perhaps?

People might be keeping their cash in their pockets... if they have any.

Mind you, go to any retail park on a weekend and you'd think there was a permanent 50% sale on because you can't move for people, and it always makes me think, "Recession! What recession?"

Given the number of season ticket holders the club has, I don't think that'll have that much effect, this season. It might stop a few people attending, more likely away fans given the extra expense, but I don't think it accounts for much at this point.

Next season might be a different scenario mind.

2008

Harlequins - 14,557
Salford - NA
Catalans - 14,083
Wigan - 18,769
Wakey - 9,863 & 17, 647
Celtic - NA

Avg from these games = 14,983

2009

Harlequins - 13,912
Salford - 14,381
Catalans - 13,425
Wigan - 17,677
Wakey - 15,643
Celtic - 14,827

Avg from these games = 14,978

Surprisingly close, although 2008s figures will be dragged down by the very low crowd in 1st game against Wakey

Thinking about this a bit more, I may have some evidence as to why, although anecdotal, which might shed some light on this; my Sister and Brother-in-law are both season ticket holders of a number of years (many). They went up to the Magic weekend, but didn't attend any games. Asking my Brother-in-law as to why, he simply said he didn't want to spend his hard earned watching the game with the way he "expected" Leeds to play at the moment, instead preferring to spend a nice weekend in Edinburgh.

This is the same chap who has followed Leeds since long before I have known him; 20+ years. He's no stranger to an under achieving Leeds, and I would not call him fickle. I don't think it's the winning or losing that's necessarily important to him, but the way they play. I hope this makes sense.

If it's figures produced by 'Bilko' you might wish to treat them with caution. As I discovered rlon this threadrl where his own teams win, draw, loss record doesn't even tally with their total games played let alone another clubs attendances.

That said the average at Leeds is down by 12% at this stage.

Last year average (13 games) - this year's average (6 games) -12%
First six home fixtures 2008 - First six fixtures 2009 -12%

By opponent (slightly better at -7%)-11%
Les Catalans -5%
Wigan -6%
Harlequins -4%

The introduction of Celtic and Salford this year will likely as not bring the average down without taking any other factors into account.

apart from warrington weve had well shoddy away crowds very dissapointing where was the usual turn out at cas bradford etc

You can't rely on away crowds though to boost your attendances, you need to (and Leeds are generally very good at it) build your own fan base not rely on those who will only visit the ground once a season.

But all clubs go through highs and lows with attendances, and often for no apparent reason, but the current economic climate is probably going to be having an effect on clubs attendances and understandably so.

Am I wrong to presume in this case he is referring to the Leeds fans travelling where numbers (in his view) have fallen away?

And this year they brought more than any other year before them!

On a slightly different angle, for some reason, Leeds isn't a trip they want to make in France! Wigan, Bradford and Saints they like, along with (obviously) The Magic Weekend, but not Leeds, wonder why that is!

Yes I think you are right actually - but the same applies in a way.